Wednesday, February 27, 2008

There once lived a great warrior.Despite his advancing years, he was still able to defeat all challengers.As his reputation continued to grow and spread throughout the land, many students came to study under him.

One day, a young warrior whose reputation was on the rise, arrived at the older warriors' village.He had decided that he would be the first man to defeat the great master.

The young warrior was known for two skills.One was his great strength and the second was his uncanny ability to spot and exploit his opponents weakness.His strategy was to wait for his opponent to make the first move, thereby revealing his weakness and then strike with great strength and speed.

The older warrior, willingly accepted the challenge of the younger man, although all of his students advised against it.

As the battle began, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master.He threw dirt at the master and spit at him.

For hours the young warrior verbally assaulted the older warrior with every curse and insult that he had ever heard. Throughout it all the old warrior stood motionless and serene.

At last, the young warrior was exhausted.He finally walked away knowing that he had been defeated and feeling very ashamed.

When the young warrior had left, the masters students gathered around him asking questions.(Many were disappointed that the old warrior had not fought.)"How could you endure his insults?" "What made him go away?"

The master smiled at his students and quietly asked them,"If someone comes to give a gift, and you do not receive it, to whom does the gift belong?"

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"It ought to be the rule, rather than the exception, that young children listen to, read, act out, and discuss fairy tales, myths, legends, folklore, heroic adventures, biographies, and stories from history."Ravitch (1987)